The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable is set to unveil their latest import when He’s Our Bonneval steps out at Caulfield.
Racing as Bonneval in the UK, the five-year-old son of Siyouni has been forced to undergo a name change following his arrival in Australia.
A New Zealand mare trained by Murray Baker raced as Bonneval last decade and collected two Group 1 wins – the ATC Australian Oaks and the Underwood Stakes.
He’s Our Bonneval has a long way to go to live up to his namesake and steps out in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.
The race is a benchmark 84 grade race and is a long way short of the Group 1 company that Bonneval competed against in trips to Australia when successful at the highest level in 2017.
But He’s Our Bonneval is no slouch, registering three wins and five placings in his nine starts before being purchased to continue his career in Australia.
At his last start in the UK, He’s Our Bonneval was defeated by Dark Shift who came out last week during the Royal Ascot Carnival to score in the Royal Hunt Cup over a mile.
He’s Our Bonneval was scheduled to make his debut at Sandown on June 11, but a heavy track combined with missing an important trial in the lead-up forced him to miss that race.
Busuttin and Young have been able to get some more work into He’s Our Bonneval since and are looking forward to seeing the gelding step out on Saturday.
“He’s a horse that has done everything right at home and is a nice horse,” Busuttin said.
“The 1400 metres might be a touch too short for him but when he gets up to 1600 metres or 2000 metres, that’s when you’ll see the best of him.”